Vehicle-spring



(No Model.)

B. M. VAN VALKENBURG.

VEHICLE SPRING.

Patented Oct. 14, 1890.

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELLIS M. VAN VALKENBURG, OF UNION GROVE, WISCONSIN.

VEHICLE-SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 438,207, dated October14, 1890.;

Application filed March 3, 1890. Serial No. 342,403. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern-.-

. Be it known that I, ELLIs M. VAN VALKEN- BURG, of Union Grove, in thecounty of Racine and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Vehiclelumber wagons, though by a slight modification inthe construction it could be arranged for use with carriages, buggies,or other similar vehicles.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved deviceshown in its normal position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the samedevice shown in a partly-depressed position. Fig. 3 is a top or planView of the coupling device, by which the sections of the springs areunited. Fig. 4 is a detail of a bolster-guide plate.

A represents the bolster of a wagon, and B B are posts fixed rigidlytherein.

C is a false bolster, supported movably above the bolster A between theposts B B.

D D are guide-plates, secured adjustably to the ends of the falsebolster C by bolts E E passing through longitudinal slots in theguide-plates and through the false bolster C, the slots in theguide-plates being so arranged as to permit of the endwise adjustment ofthe guide-plates on the bolster. The guide-plates are provided with lugsF F, ext-ending on each side of the posts B B, whereby the false bolsteris held in place and guided in its vertical movements.

The false bolster C is supported on the bolster A yieldingly by metalsprings G. These springs are formed in two sections H H, and thesesections are each constructed in a lower and upper part I and 1,respectively. These springs are constructed of fiat strap steel. Theupper parts I of the spring are secured near their outer ends to theunder side of the false bolster C, and the lower springs I I at theirouter ends bear movably on the upper surface of the bolster A, while thesprings I and I of each section H H are brought together at their innerends, and are there socured fixedly in pairs in head-pieces K K, thesprings. of each section H having'a separate head-piece, whichhead-pieces are located at a little distance apart near the center ofthe bolsters A and O.

The head-pieces K K are provided with flanges L L, extending upwardly attheir sides, between which the springs are received and fitted, and thesprings are secured to the head-pieces by bolts M M passing through theends of the .springs and head-pieces.

The head-pieces are each provided with tongues N and N, which projectinwardly from the head-pieces toward each other.

The tongue N on one of the head-pieces is provided with a slot 0,through which a T- head P on the free end of the other tongue N" isadapted to pass when turned sidewise for that purpose, which head beingso passed through the slot 0 is adapted to bear against the under sideof the tongue N, and hold the tongue N in position therewith, whilepermitting a longitudinal motion of the two tongues on each other. Thetongue N is also preferably provided with upwardly-extend ing flanges RR alongside the slot 0 and extending to the end of the tongue, so formedand arranged as to receive the tongue N be tween them and to stillfurther guide and control the tongue N in its relations to the tongue N.v

The tongues N and N are each provided with bearings S S to strike andmove on the bolster A. The springs I and I arealso pro vided with one ormore re-enforcing leaves T T, being here shown with one leaf only,though more can be used, if desired. These re-en I will lie nearlyflatagainst the under sur* face of the false bolster, while the lowersprings I are preferably formed on a curve the true segment of a circle.When a load is placed on the false bolster, the springs will bedepressed centrally in the manner shown in Fig. 2, particularly if theupper springs are madesomewhat lighter or no heavier than the lowersprings, as. they should be, and the bearing parts S S will strikeagainst the lower bolster, the tongues N and N will slide past eachother, and the weight, if sufficient, will carry the springs down stillfarther until the upper and lower parts of the springs are broughtnearly or quite together at their outer ends. while supporting thebolster at its extreme ends, where the load usually comes 011 thebolster, is suchas to give a very gentle and easy yielding movement atfirst, and afterward, when the bearings S S are upon the lower bolster,to give a stronger and more unyielding support to the false bolster.

The-guide-plates D D are so constructed that the parts thereof that areabout the ends of the false bolster have somewhat the form ofdouble-channel irons-that is, there is a transverse web'V, which fitsagainst the under side of the false bolster, and there are verticalsides WW, which extend above and below the web, those parts of the sidesthat extend .above the web forming channels in wvhich the ends of thefalse bolster are received, and those parts which project below the webforming channels in which the outer extremities of the upper leaves I Iare. received. These upper leaves'I' I of the springs areucommonly aswide as the false bolster, and fit nicely into the channels in, theunder side of the guides D D,.and are thereby held against lateralmovement, and these leaves may be constructed to bearso strongly againstthe under sides of the WGbS'Of the plates as to clamp them firmly to thefalse bolsterand thereby dispense with the bolts E E.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A vehicle-spring consisting of two separate sets or sections ofsprings, one set-en- The peculiar form of these springs tirely on eachside of the middle of the supporting-bolster, each set or section havingan upper and a lower part, which parts are each connected rigidlytogether at their inner ends, being normally separated at their outerends, the upper part of each section being secured near its outer end tothe false bolster andbeing so formed as normally to be nearly straightalong on the under side of the false bolster, the lower part beingcurved downwardly from its inner end,its outer end being free to slideonthe bolster, and the inner ends of the sections being connectedmovably together, substantially as described.

'2. In a vehicle-spring constructed in two sections, each section beingcomposed of two parts which at their outer extremities are normally at adistance from each other, headpieces to which the inner ends .of eachsection are rigidly seeured,-.which head-pieces;

ing therein the end of the false bolster. and V the lower channelreceiving therein the end of a spring, which spring is thereby held inplace against lateral movement and clamps the guide-plate .adjustably tothe bolster,-substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature: in

presence of two witnesses.

ELLIS M. VAN VALKENBURG.

Witnesses:

O. T. BENEDICT, ANNA FAUST.

